Your grade 6 cello ABRSM exam will be marked out of 150 and you will need a total of 100 marks to Pass, 120 marks for a Merit and 130 marks for a Distinction. The exam comprises of four main areas:
Pieces
In your exam you are required to play three pieces (worth up to 30 marks each), one from each of the three lists, A, B and C below:
LIST A
- J. S. Bach Menuets 1 and 2: from Suite No. 1 in G, BWV 1007. Bach Six Suites for Violoncello Solo (Bärenreiter BA 320 or Peters EP 238 or Peters (Urtext) EP 9054)
- B. Marcello Largo and Allegro: 3rd and 4th movts from Sonata in F, Op. 2 No. 1 (Peters EP 7393) or No. 1 from Marcello Six Sonatas, Op. 2 (Peters EP 4647)
- B. Porta Allegro: 2nd movt from Sonata in Bb. Three 18th-Century Sonatas for Cello (Faber)
- A. Scarlatti Largo and Allegretto: 1st and 2nd movts from Sonata No. 1 in D minor. Scarlatti Three Sonatas for Cello (G. Schirmer GS26226) or The Cello Collection, Intermediate Level (G. Schirmer HL50486141)
- Telemann Largo and Allegro: 3rd and 4th movts from Sonata in D, TWV 41:D6 (from Der getreue Musikmeister) (Bärenreiter HM 13 ). Also available in: Cello & Piano 1, arr. Pejtsik (Editio Musica Budapest Z.14636)
- Vivaldi Largo and Allegro: 1st and 2nd movts from Sonata in E minor, RV 40. Vivaldi Two Sonatas for Violoncello (RV 40 & RV 46) (Bärenreiter BA 6995c) or Vivaldi Complete Sonatas for Violoncello (Bärenreiter BA 6995)
LIST B
- Glazunov Mélodie arabe, Op. 4 No. 5, arr. Wells and Moncrie-Kelly. Principal Cello (ABRSM)
- Goltermann La Foi (The Faith), Op. 95 No. 1 (IMC 3056)
- Halvorsen Veslemøy’s Song (from Suite Mosaïque). More Time Pieces for Cello, Vol. 2, arr. Bruce and Wells (ABRSM)
- Rachmaninov Lied (mute optional). Steven Isserlis’s Cello World (Faber)
- Romberg Allegro non troppo: 1st movt from Sonata in E minor, Op. 38 No. 1 (Dowani or IMC 813). Also available in: Solos for Young Cellists, Vol. 3 (cello 1 part: Alfred–Summy-Birchard 21030X )
- Verhey Idylle, Op. 37 (Broekmans & Van Poppel BRP 1845)
LIST C
- F. Austin Captain Cockchafer (from The Fairy Ring). More Time Pieces for Cello, Vol. 2, arr. Bruce and Wells (ABRSM)
- Bartók Joc cu bâtă and Buciumeana: No. 1 and No. 4 from Romanian Folk Dances, trans. Silva (Universal UE 13265)
- Gavin Bryars With Miriam by the River. Spectrum for Cello (ABRSM)
- Bunting Dance Caprice. Principal Cello (ABRSM)
- Carl Davis Elegy. Unbeaten Tracks for Cello (Faber)
- Squire Bourrée, Op. 24. Solos for Young Cellists, Vol. 3 (cello 1 part: Alfred–Summy-Birchard 21030X) or The Squire Cello Solo Collection (Carl Fischer)
Scales & Arpeggios
As part of your exam you are also required to play scales & arpeggios from memory (worth up to 21 marks) - please see the ABRSM Cello Grades 6-8 Scale Book
Sight-Reading Test
You will also be required to sight-read some music that you have not seen before (worth up to 21 marks) - to prepare for this part of your exam please see the ABRSM Cello Grades 6-8 Sight-Reading Book which has a selection of specimen sight-reading pieces.
Aural Tests
In another part of your exam you will be required to complete a set of aural tests challenging your musicianship (worth up to 18 marks). To help prepare for this please see the ABRSM Aural Training in Practice Grades 6-8 Book (a guide with tests) and/or ABRSM Specimen Sight-Reading Tests Grade 6 Book (specimen tests).
*Information correct at time of publishing 14.03.16